fi
fi — noun
- fisingular
- fisplural
1. a piece of electronic equipment, such as a stereo system or set of speakers, tha
a piece of electronic equipment, such as a stereo system or set of speakers, that plays recorded music with clear and pleasant sound quality
Yuna brought her old fi to the party so everyone could dance.
The Watanabe family's fi takes up most of the living room wall.
possessive + fi — referring to a stereo system as a piece of furniture
Niran cleaned the dust off his fi before playing his favourite vinyl records.
Beatrix found a vintage fi at the charity shop for only fifty pounds.
We connected our phones to the fi and played music all afternoon.
- hi-fi
the full form — more widely understood in both speech and writing
- stereo
more common in modern English; refers specifically to two-channel sound equipment
- sound system
broader term that can include speakers, amplifiers, and receivers together
用法筆記
'Fi' is an informal shortening of 'hi-fi'. In everyday conversation, 'stereo' or 'sound system' is more common, though 'fi' still appears among audio enthusiasts. Adding 'hi-fi' or 'stereo' helps listeners understand what you mean.
常見錯誤
2. the degree to which electronic audio equipment reproduces sound clearly and accu
the degree to which electronic audio equipment reproduces sound clearly and accurately, without unwanted noise or distortion
The old record player had excellent fi that impressed even the audio experts.
Modern digital music offers better fi than most cassette tapes could provide.
better fi than — comparative pattern for sound quality
The engineer tested the fi of the new speakers using a special recording.
Vinícius prefers vintage amplifiers because of their warm fi.
- fidelity
the full word — more formal and clearer in technical writing
- sound quality
a broader, everyday term that is easier for non-specialists to understand
- distortion
the opposite of faithful, clear sound reproduction
用法筆記
This sense refers to the abstract quality of sound reproduction, not the physical equipment. It is almost always used in technical or audiophile contexts. Unlike sense 1, 'fi' here is uncountable and never takes an article like 'a' or 'an'.
常見錯誤
fi — idiom
1. used in notes, lists, or informal writing to introduce a specific example of som
used in notes, lists, or informal writing to introduce a specific example of something you have just mentioned
Common pets need special care — fi, hamsters require a large cage with plenty of bedding.
Ignacio listed his favourite hobbies — fi, hiking, photography, and cooking.
fi — introducing an example list after a dash
The class wrote about a famous scientist, fi, Marie Curie or Albert Einstein.
Apinya packed her suitcase with warm clothes — fi, jumpers, scarves, and thick socks.
- for example
the full phrase — appropriate in all contexts, both spoken and written
- e.g.
the standard abbreviation from Latin 'exempli gratia' — much more common than 'fi'
用法筆記
'Fi' for 'for instance' is mainly found in note-taking, informal lists, or personal writing. In standard English, 'e.g.' or 'for example' is far more common and appropriate for formal contexts. Often written with a period: 'fi.'